Chris Patten to Lead Vatican Communications Re-vamp Drive

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) – Former Hong Kong Governor Chris Patten will head a committee to advise Pope Francis on how to re-vamp and modernize the Holy See’s media strategy, the Vatican said on Wednesday.

Patten, 70, one of Britain’s most experienced politicians, will be president of an 11-member committee made up of six experts from around the world and five Vatican officials.

It will make proposals within the next year to bring the Vatican more up to date with communications trends, improve coordination among departments and cut costs, a statement said.

The Vatican, which already has a number of internet sites and Twitter accounts, including that of Pope Francis, will use more digital media to reach a wider, younger audience, it said.

Patten, a former Conservative Party chairman, served as the last British governor of Hong Kong as well as external affairs commissioner for the European Union.

A Roman Catholic, he also worked on behalf of the British government to manage Pope Benedict’s visit to Britain in 2010.

He most recently was head of the organisation that oversaw the BBC, enduring three turbulent years as Britain’s public broadcaster battled a series of scandals. He stood down in May after heart surgery, saying he needed to reduce the range of roles he undertook.